Canada legalises gay marriages

Canada has become the third country to legalise gay marriage, as Parliament passed landmark legislation allowing same-sex civil unions despite strong opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders. Though gay marriage is already legal in seven provinces, the bill now grants all same-sex couples in Canada the same legal rights as those in traditional union between a man and a woman. The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other nations that allow gay marriage nationwide. The legislation, drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin’s minority Liberal Party Government, was expected to easily pass through the Liberal-dominated Senate and become Federal law by the end of July. Some of Mr. Martin’s Liberal lawmakers voted against the bill, and his Cabinet Minister for Economic Development in Ontario, Joe Comuzzi, resigned on Tuesday over the legislation